Thousands protest against sexual violence in France as Gisele Pelicot trial continues
Protests take place across French cities to mark International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Saturday 23 November 2024 22:09, UK
Thousands of people across France are protesting against sexual violence to mark the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Women held banners reading "we won't serve the rearming of the state" and "sexist violence, fascist violence, same feminist fight".
Dozens of others in Paris dressed as Second World War feminist symbol Rosie the Riveter.
Femi Otitoju, a member of the campaign group Million Women Rise, told Sky News sexual violence had become "widespread".
"What's really happening here is that we are getting a little bit of an insight into the every day, the banal violence that women face on a day-to-day basis," she said.
"It's an ongoing problem, an epidemic even, of violence against women and girls."
She continued: "We should be shocked about how widespread [sexual violence] has become and how day-to-day attitudes towards women and girls are changing."
Ms Otitoju took aim at social media personalities who advocate "very regressive and very dangerous attitudes" that are being adopted by young men.
"We need to look at the way in which social media is addressing gender roles and the ways in which being known as a sexual predator isn't seen as a negative thing for a lot of people," she said.
Ms Otitoju called on men to take action against sexual violence.
"We want to see men taking responsibility, never keeping silent when they see violence against women and girls, and supporting women who are on the receiving end of this kind of behaviour."
The protests were sparked by the ongoing Gisele Pelicot trial, in which 50 men stand accused of raping the 71-year-old while unconscious over a 10-year period.
Her husband Dominique Pelicot, 72, has already admitted drugging and raping her and allowing other men to abuse her.
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Most of the other men deny rape, claiming they thought she was asleep as part of roleplay.
On Tuesday, Ms Pelicot told the court: "For me, this is the trial of cowardice, there is no other way to describe it."
She went on: "It is time for society to look at this macho, patriarchal society and change the way it looks at rape."